Student Handbook

2018 - 2019 Student Handbook

HoursM-TH 8:15am to 4:00pmFridays - No School

WEATHER RELATED CLOSURESIn the event of extreme weather conditions involving snow or ice, school may start late or be canceled for the day. Cedarbrook usually follows the Chimacum School District.Please listen to the radio, check for an e-mail, or watch a local TV station for this information.

Cedarbrook Adventist Christian School is part of a world-wide system of Seventh-day Adventist schools offering education from 1st grade through university and graduate school. Cedarbrook has been in operation for more than fifty years and is committed to high academic standards that meet or exceed Washington State requirements. We are an approved private school by the state of Washington, and are accredited by the Washington Federation of Independent Schools and by the National Council for Private School Accreditation.

Cedarbrook is one of approximately 22 elementary and high schools operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Western Washington. We are a part of what is known as the Washington Conference. The Port Townsend Seventh-day Adventist Church is a major financial contributor to our program, as is the Washington Conference. The Washington Conference is part of the North Pacific Union Conference, which includes 6 of the states in the Pacific Northwest. The North Pacific Union Conference is part of the North American Division, which covers all of North America. And the North American Division is part of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which oversees the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world-wide.

We are pleased that you have decided to place your child in this system of education where excellence in all areas is the goal!.

CEDARBROOK'S MISSION

Cedarbrook Adventist Christian School exists to provide a Christian atmosphere for its students, and a curriculum which promotes love and respect for God, others, and oneself. We aim to provide a Christian education which promotes opportunities for the fullest development of the student’s physical, mental, spiritual, and social abilities.

Experienced Administration and Staff

Cedarbrook Adventist Christian School is a fully accredited 1st through 8th grade private school. Cedarbrook employs only the most highly skilled and certified professional educators. They are mission minded - with a heartfelt desire to help our students achieve academically and spiritually, so that they too, will develop servent leader qualities and serve.

Greg Reseck - Principal/Teacher grades 1 to 8

M.A./B.A. Theology, Education, Counseling and Guidance

La Sierra University and Loma Linda Universit

Mr. Reseck has 33 years of teaching and administrative experience on the elementary and middle school level. He has a Professional Teaching Credential from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a California State Pupil Personnel Services Credential, a Masters in Counseling and Guidance from Loma Linda University, and a Professional Washington State Teaching Credential. He has a passion for teaching young people life skills and for making learning fun.

Kathy Ybarra - Teaching Assistant

SCHOOL ENTRANCE INFORMATIONAgeState law requires children to be five years old in order to start kindergarten, and six to start first grade. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the older a child is when they start school, the more ready they are for the academic workload. Starting a child too soon often leads to frustration and a lack of success in school. Exceptions can be made if a child demonstrates a basic level of readiness and is a few weeks from the required age. They would be classified as pre-kindergarten or pre-first grade.

Grade PlacementThe teaching staff at Cedarbrook reserves the right to recommend to parents that a child’s grade placement be adjusted to better fit his or her educational needs. Such a determination will be reached after evaluating the current academic progress and standardized test scores, and following the guidelines set forth in the Seventh-day Adventist Educational Code.

MEDICAL & RELATED INFORMATIONPhysical ExamA physical examination is required of all students entering the first grade. Please request that the physician provide a copy of the written evaluation for the school cumulative folder.

ImmunizationsWashington State law requires children to meet minimum immunization requirements before being admitted to school. Cedarbrook recommends children be immunized against Hepatitis B, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, and mumps. If a parent chooses not to have their child/children immunized, a letter should be written stating the reasons for this choice.

InsuranceStudents are covered by school accident insurance while at school or on a school-sponsored field trip. Your personal insurance should be used first if possible. Additional insurance coverage is available for parents who wish to purchase it.

IllnessIf your child is running a fever, is nauseated or vomiting, has diarrhea, has a sore throat or runny nose, PLEASE keep them home. When they are sick they cannot function at school and they expose others, including the teachers, to the illness. Please use common sense in this area. If a child becomes ill while at school, you will be called to come get them as soon as possible.

LOGISTICSTransportationParents are responsible for transporting their children to and from school. We will gladly match you up with parents in your area if you would like to form a carpool. It is imperative that we know who is authorized to pick up your child after school. If other arrangements are made for transportation, please let the staff know in advance.

School VisitorsParents are encouraged to visit their child’s classroom. We want you to be a part of your child’s education. If you would like to visit or volunteer, please make arrangements for this with the teacher in advance.

School TelephoneThe school telephone is a business phone, and not for general use. Students may use the phone for contacting their parents if the need arises, or if you call with a need to talk to them. We cannot always answer the phone, so do leave a message and we will return your call.

ACADEMICS & EXTRACIRRICULARAttendance PolicyA written excuse should be provided following an absence, stating the reason for the absence. A phone call is appreciated if your child will be tardy or absent. If a student misses school, it is their responsibility, with the parent’s help, to get the missed work made up as soon as possible. The teacher will provide a list of the missed work when the student returns to school.

Bible ClassCedarbrook Adventist Christian School is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Our Bible curriculum teaches basic Christian beliefs. The upper grade curriculum does include doctrinal information as to what we believe, but these topics are approached as a comparative religion study. We value religious freedom, and encourage open discussion during our Bible classes. We invite families of other denominations to ask their pastor to make presentation about their beliefs in a comparative religions forum during Bible class. Bible studies are available for any student or parent who wishes additional information on what Adventists believe.

Standardized TestingAll students in grades 3 to 8 take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in the fall of the school year. These tests show how well the students are mastering the basic skills and help the teachers know what scholastic areas need additional work.

Field TripsEducational field trips are planned to enhance the classroom learning experience. Parents are often asked to help transport students on these trips. Students must have a signed permission slip on file, and drivers must be cleared by the Washington State Patrol.

Community ServiceOpportunities are provided for community service. The older students participate in a road cleanup project near the library in Port Hadlock. Younger students pick up trash on Kennedy Road. Gloves are provided and students are supervised carefully during this activity.

Report CardsWritten report cards are issued at the end of each nine week period. Parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their child’s teacher any time they have a desire to meet. Parent-Teacher Conferences are usually held after the first quarter, and as needed after the third quarter. We make a great effort to provide mid-quarter progress reports.

Parent-Teacher CommunicationWe value communication with you. Expect a note from the teacher each week with a sample of your child’s work for the week. This will come home in a folder that we ask you to sign and return to us so we know you have seen it. If you ever have any concerns, please send us a note, call us, or e-mail.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIESConduct GuidelinesBecause Cedarbrook is a private Christian school, we ask that students refrain from any of the following activities which could jeopardize their enrollment: use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or drugs; use of profanity; sexual harassment; general harassment of another student; destruction or damage of school property; disrespect for another student or staff; disrespect for the property of another student or staff. Basic Christian courtesy is encouraged and expected.

Dress CodeWe expect the choice of clothing to be in good taste in relation to Christian standards. Clothing should be modest and not draw undue attention to the wearer. It should be clean, practical, and in good repair. Please do not wear extreme styles, torn and ragged clothing, immodest shorts or skirts, tank tops, tops with spaghetti straps, T-shirts with inappropriate words or pictures, or low cut tops. Girls should be able to lift their arms and not show their stomach and bend down without showing their chest. Modesty is the key! If there is any question as to whether an item is appropriate, please ask the staff BEFORE allowing it to be worn. If an item of clothing is worn that is not acceptable, the student may be asked to cover it with a baggy T-shirt for the day. For the hair, please avoid unnatural colors and styles. Similarly, for fingernail polish, please avoid bright colors and black. Jewelry: We prefer that jewelry also follow the rule in that it should not attract undue attention to the wearer. The considerations for jewelry should be safety and simplicity. The larger styles of earrings would be a safety hazard during P.E. and recess.

Discipline ProceduresSince the teacher is also the principal, he must deal with discipline issues. Parental back-up is sometimes needed to help a student learn to use self-control. working together, our goal is to create a positive attitude and teach students to be self-managers.

Electronic DevicesThe use of radios, I-pods, Game Boys, cell phones, and other electronic devices is discoraged during the school day. We would prefer they be left at home. They are a distraction and tend to isolate. If students bring a cell phone, it must be on vibrate and not be used without permission from the teacher. If there is a problem, the teacher may take the electronic device for the rest of the day.

Weapon’s PolicyCedarbrook has a “zero tolerance: policy for weapons. Weapons should NEVER be brought to school. This would include guns, slingshots, pocket knives, hunting knives, or any other item which could be classified as a weapon.

School LunchesCedarbrook does not provide lunches. Wednesdays are special days where students can purchase lunches prepared that day. Otherwise, students need to bring sack lunches. Microwave ovens are provided for heating foods, and a refrigerator is available for keeping food cold. Students should bring their own eating utensils, plates, and other items needed for their food. Beverages containing caffeine as well as carbonated beverages are discouraged, as they can cause hyperactivity due to the caffeine and/or high sugar content. We would prefer that you not send sodas or energy drinks in lunches.

School hoursCedarbrook operates on a four day-school week. School begins at 8:15am and ends at 4:00pm. We encourage parents to plan so that students arrive on time. If they are late, they miss our worship time or disrupt it by being late. Students should not arrive more than 20 minutes before the start of school, and should not be left more than 20 minutes after school dismisses. If you are delayed, please call us so we know that you are on the way.

Parent VolunteersVolunteers are appreciated at Cedarbrook. We do not have funding for teacher’s aides or a secretary. If you can help in the classrooms or do some other work around the school, please talk to your child’s teacher. Volunteers will need to fill out the State Patrol Volunteer Clearance forms.

Daycare ServicesCedarbrook Early Learning Center offers a school-age after-school program. Arrangements to use this service must be made with the ELC upstairs.

FundraisersFundraisers are held during the school year to help raise funds for additional school supplies and activities. We encourage parents to assist their children with these fundraisers, and appreciate the help.

Financial Information

Cedarbrook Adventist Christian School is a non-profit organization. Donations are gladly accepted and are tax-deductable. Some employers will match donation dollar for dollar.

Cedarbrook is financed by three main sources:

tuition and registration fees from parents.

a monthly subsidy and donations from the Port Townsend Seventh-day Adventist Church

A subsidy from the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

The tuition only covers about 40% of the cost of operating the school. We have done everything in our power to keep the tuition rates down. It is our goal to provide a quality Christian education at an affordable price.

Tuition is due the first day of each month, and should be paid before the 12th of the month. Cedarbrook offers the option of paying for 9 or 10 months, to slightly reduce the monthly amount.

The registration fee covers such things as school insurance, the school yearbook, library books, computer software and upgrades, textbook rental and the purchase of new workbooks, textbooks, art supplies, and other general school supplies.

If you drop behind in your tuition payments, arrangements must be made to get your statement up to date. A student may be asked to withdraw from school until the bill is caught up. Please keep in touch with the principal. Tuition checks should be given to the principal.

The registration fee is not refundable, but if a student withdraws from school during the year, a partial refund may be available.

Current Costs

Registration Fee: $250.00 per child. This fee is due in August.Total tuition: $3250.00 for the school year. The first tuition payment is due in September.10 month plan: $325.00 per month, September through June. (There is a June payment.)9 month plan: $361.12 per month, September through May. Discounts for multiple children: $30.00 off for the second child; $60.00 off for the third child; the fourth child is free. Occasionally an extra textbook fee of $50.00 may be charged to help with the cost of purchasing a complete new textbook series, such as Math or Science.